In a perfect world, your boss never has bad days. He always arrives to work chirpy, he doesn’t have mood swings, he knows exactly what he wants, and he’s always nice to his employees. In the real world, even the best bosses have off days. Your boss’s annoyance may manifest in various ways, such as agitation, curtness or even ignoring you. How you respond to him can make or break the situation.

Examine the situation objectively to figure out your boss’s behavior. Is his annoyance an isolated incident? It is a recurring matter? What specific incident led him to be annoyed with you? Or, does it seem like he’s taking out his personal issues on you? Pinpoint the cause of his behavior before you decide how to respond.

Correct the problem if the fault lies with you. For example, your boss is annoyed because you failed to meet a deadline. Sincerely apologize to him, state the reason why you failed to meet the deadline, and assure him that you will do your best to avoid repeating the mistake.

Make sure you are not imagining annoyance in your boss and that you are not overreacting to a trivial matter. For example, on a specific day, your boss is busier than usual. He’s short with you because he’s a bit stressed. Try to overlook his abruptness and give him your full support, which can calm him down in strenuous times such as this. Sometimes, patience is all that’s needed.

Discuss the matter with your boss instead of confronting him. For example, he makes bad decisions because he doesn’t know what he’s doing. Or, he’s overly critical and leads by intimidation instead of motivating and inspiring his workers. Be professional and tactful when explaining to your boss how his behavior prevents you from performing at your best. For example, say that you have noticed lately that he seems dissatisfied with your work and you would like his input on how to improve. Based on his response, you’ll know whether he plans -- or wants -- to change.

Have a backup plan. Some bosses don’t like to be told they are wrong because it makes them feel that their power is threatened. Therefore, your boss may react negatively to you opening his eyes to his bad behavior and may even find a way to dismiss you for it. If your boss keeps being annoyed with you for no good reason and it’s negatively affecting your job performance or health, consider seeking employment elsewhere. Or, visit your human resources department to see if a different department within the company could use your skills and experience.

Tips

If your manager displays bullying or abusive behavior, follow company policy for filing a complaint. Many employers have a zero tolerance anti-bullying policy, which includes procedures for employees to launch a complaint. In a positive workplace, managers are held accountable for their actions.

Seek assistance from HR or the equivalent department only if you cannot resolve the matter with your boss directly.